Page:A Mainsail Haul - Masefield - 1913.djvu/177

Rh table much eaten by the ants, a bench or two, some casks of ship's provisions (which might have sailed with Hawkins), a pipe of rum, a few teeth, most of them a little yellow, and some weapons, beautifully bright, in a trophy rack upon the wall. Towards midnight, Willy got up to fetch his mate a curio.

"Some heathen idol," he said, "them blacks give it to me for a whittle."

It had been placed behind some barrels, and what with the rum, what with a long spell of laziness, Willy was unable to shift them. Joe came to his assistance, canted the casks, and rolled them away upon their chines.

"Thankee, mate," said Willy, "I'm not so limber as I was. I been ashore too long. Me joints is gone in the slings." He paused awhile. Then he piped out, "Mate, matey, supposin' you was to stop ashore with me. There ain't no call for you to go a-cruising. I'd be proud to have you. Hell," he continued, "I can't rastle them blacks. I want some one spryer'n myself. Some one as'll flay their hides, by Davy."

There was a pause for a moment, while Joe's